Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-01-07
PEDAGOGUEs MEET.
RroreedInes O. the Thirty Sixth Annual Meet
ing CT the State Teachers Association


sing on the 2sth, 18th and Goth ult. The
educators OF the state were out IN force
and manifested deep interest in the work
The welcoming address was delivered by
Mr.. VIM. Donovan, president OF the board
of education of Lansing, who briefly,
sketched the growth Of the public school
system of the state and cordially greeted
the teachers. Prot \. T., Haynes of Hills
dale college responded in behalf of the
teachers
The president, Supt David Howell of
Lansing, delivered his address on "Char-
acter the Leading Object of Study" He
said:
That the teachers should assemble from
the cities, villages and hsmlets OF this vast
commonwealth 10 communicate the re
suits OF their reflections and impart the
fruits of their observations and experience
10 each other is indeed an object OF high
est commentator. For many decades
the tide of immigration has
set toward our shores with undi-
miniShed Vigor The gates of
every land on the globe have been opened
outward, and there has burst out living
throng with faces set toward the promised
land The ignorance Of this vast throng
OF our peculiar customs and theory of the
government their lack of acquaintan ,e
with our language and proper apprecia-
ton OF the duties OF citizenship. and final
" their clannish instincts have filled the
centers Of population with colonies as
separate and distinct from Ameri-
can civilization as though planted on
an island OF the sea. To convert
this heterogeneous mass OF discordant ele-
mCnts into homogeneous people, pos
seSsed with intelligence moral character
and high appreciation OF the duties of
citizenship, seems TO be the function OF the
public schools Of our country. The secret
OF the downfall OF Greece and Rome arose
from wealth coming 20 be uncquallv dis
tributed. intelligence unequally ditfused
and knowledge substituted for character.
Grave questions associated with the wei
fare OF the republic force themselves upon
us and our safety depends upon the char
aCter OF the work done in the public
schools The Improvement Of character is
the leading object of study. In this cOun-
try the desire to become distinguished for
great riches is dangerous 20 purity and
uprightneSs OF character The prevalent
and raging desire for popularity and emf
nent station, which our democratic insti-
tutions tend 20 foster. should be guarded
against in the minds of our youth. The
grand object that should be most promi-
nent before the mind in the whole course
of preparatory study should be individual
progress in all the elements OF a grand
character. II the product, OF our public
schools are men armed with the pan
oply OF immortal truth, the pillars of our
republic will stand inVinCiblc and nshak-
en-. ON men educated 10 regard the emf
hence OF mere wealth and power, the les
sons Of history are thrown away. When
men who have been educated under the
control Of such motives fill our legislative
halls and chairs Of state. every question
that comes before them is viewed in its
bearing on public wealth and power Let
the teachers Of Michigan so live and labor
that genuine and good character may be
regarded as OF the first Importance and
truth be established rs the highest thing
in the mind, and hearts Of every citizen.
At the annual meeting OF the state asso-
citation of county school examiners the
form Of bill was discussed and adopted
which proposes placing the district schools
of the state under the supervision OF the
county board Of examiners. The bill viii
be introduced at tho approaching session
OF the legislature The following officers
were elected for the ensuing year: Presi-
dent. j.. j. Church, Greenvillc; vice -presi-
dent. W. ID. Clizhe. Lapeer: secretary and
treasurer JAY CalkinS. Leslie. executive
committee. J g. Piowmau Three Rivers;
Ashley ClaIp Nicksburg; I. :. Clark. Da
visburg
THE SECOND DAY.
Limitations and proper relations Of
subjects taught in ungradcd schools,
was the subject proper Of superintendent
;. g. Burkhead Of Saginaw He would
grade the country schools just as the vii
lage and city schools are graded, except
that he would embrace the whole course
i'm four grades He outlined the full course
OF study and pointed out the hest methods
Of teaching the branches He thought
/ that little Improvement in country schools
: can tc expected under our pre-ent ,ystem
OF district organizations lie suggested
that ali the schools ofcach township should
hc organized n a single school. each school
Graded and all put under one supervision.
Prof Barr Of Albion believed that more
attention should he paid 10 rea3ing. spell
ing and writing. Supt. Bryant If Grand
Haven advocated the organization If the
I school on tho township system M. Legc
thought nothing would better promote
the grading Of our country schools tlau a
/ uniformity Of text books. The teachers
/ Of Colorado in session at Colorado Springs
te'cgrapbed greetings and the association
+ RESPONDED
! The legislature viii undoubtedly be
/ asked 90 enact some special laws. While
/ our high schools are fully abreast of the
/ times. our country schools are much below
4 those OF sister states.
Miss Mary +. Tilton Of Lansing high
school syoke on "The want. the worth and
( the cultivation Of taste for good litera-
turc. Authorship is now pitched on toe
hirh a kew. The law fOrbids the issue OF
impure books but the cravings of the peo
/ PIE demand sensation and the publishers
! furnish H. The schools can do much &c
/ cultivate a taste for good reading. Nc
wonder the boys seek sprightlv books OF
/ adventure after having been compelled
/ for months to read over aud over again
I the same old stories from the text books
When the self educated Robert Colyer was
asked how he managed 20 always use sucl
I pure. simple Saxon. he replied when a
/ 10y ! read Bunvan. Goldsmith. storie'
from the bible, and Shakspcarc. and SO got
tho taste for simple words into the fibre,
Of my nature ~
Supt T.. &. Thompson Of Albion took
hopeful view of the future development oil
hunger for better newspapers. magazine,
and books DR.. l.. r. Fi~ke said there is n
class Of literature i'm our Sunday schools
that is absolutely demoralizing. IL is en-
tertqining narrative story that carrie,
along the interest of the reader without
causing him 90 think.
The following COMMITTEES were appointed
by the president:
ON resolutions -Supts Chas W. Pickell
+. a Wilson. f.. L. Church Wesley Sears
Prof Austin George. On nominations
Supts f. MacEwan, G. y. Kendall. II y
French. G T.. Bemis. and Prof T. A. Strong
An Inquiry About Some Pedagogical
Principles" was the subject OF paper bN
Prof Daniel Putnam Of the state norma
cshool Through carele>sness or lack O
determination general principles Of TN,
highest value and Importance are con
founded with petty maNims and insignifi
cant maxims are elaborated 10 the higl
rank OF universal laws. Established gen